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Catherine Komp

Articles by Catherine Komp

A Virginia resident has created a new way of helping people with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. “Uke and Yoga” combines music and movement and is offered at more than two dozen facilities in Richmond. In 88.9 WCVE’s series on Alzheimer’s and Caregiving, Virginia Currents producer Catherine Komp has more.

After getting a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, many feel scared, anxious and uncertain about the future. One Virginia woman decided to use poetry to convey her experiences and help others understand a disease that’s often hidden. In 88.9 WCVE’s series on Alzheimer’s and Dementia, Virginia Currents Producer Catherine Komp has more.

A century ago, a growing number of states were granting women the right to vote. But the South - and Virginia - resisted. Social activists came together in Richmond to fight for enfranchisement. One of the movement’s leaders was Lila Meade Valentine. Catherine Komp has more for Virginia Currents.

In 2014, students reported 44 rapes at the University of Virginia. At the much smaller campus of the University of Richmond, 10 rapes were reported. There were 7 at Christopher Newport University and 9 at Longwood.

The numbers are from crime data submitted by institutions to the U.S. Department of Education and may not reflect the full scope of sexual violence on campus.

The Healing Place provides men addicted to drugs and alcohol a free, long-term residential recovery program. Offering a “hand up, not a hand out,” they use a 12 step, peer-led model. The program is in high demand, as the opioid epidemic continues in Greater Richmond. Virginia Currents producer Catherine Komp has more in our ongoing series, Facing Addiction.

Burnout happens in a lot of workplaces, from the corporate world to non-profits to college campuses. An effort at Virginia Commonwealth University aims to reduce stress and promote well-being by combining mindfulness and art. Catherine Komp has more for Virginia Currents.

With more than 60 candidates running for Richmond’s school board, city council and mayor, Voices for Virginia’s Children saw an opportunity. They wanted candidates and the public to talk more about Richmond’s high rates of child poverty, about 41%, and how this connects to educational achievement. The non-profit group doesn’t endorse specific candidates.

This year marked the 10th anniversary of Monticello’s Heritage Harvest Festival. A celebration of Virginia’s foodways, the event brings together chefs, historians, gardeners and local food producers. Catherine Komp has more for Virginia Currents.

Each year, the Richmond Folk Festival features bluegrass musicians from around the region. Many of these artists, including the late Ralph Stanley, have released their music on the Virginia-based Rebel Records. Catherine Komp has more for Virginia Currents.